View Full Version : Mmmmmm VXR me up...
GF and I were looking at new cars recently. Was looking at the 150bhp CDTi 6 speed Astra SRi. Enough umph, and lots of good economy... Plus he styling pack with skirts, lower front lip, rear lip, 18"s etc..
However, popped to the local VX dealer where he brother works, and whats ouside, but one of these little puppies. 236bhp, 236lf ft, 19"s, big ass comfy Recaros, sat nav, 152mph yadder etc...
So, its there, why not pop out in it. Why not indeed. Takes about 1 second to come "on boost" when given some beans, and the traction control light popped up when in 1st n 2nd. Works out the same price as the CDTi version mentioned above. Road presence is huuuuuggggeeee. Every car driver just stared, jaw on the floor. Pictures realy do not do it justice.
Ordering it in April, wooooooooooooooooooo.....
Problem is, 3 wicked cars, but only 2 drivers, one is gonna have to go, and it could be my 2.0 Corsa :( Boooooooo
http://www.channel4.com/4car/media/V/vauxhall/astra/03-large/05-vxr-r3q-st.jpg
http://www.channel4.com/4car/media/V/vauxhall/astra/03-large/05-vxr-r-st.jpg
http://www.channel4.com/4car/media/V/vauxhall/astra/03-large/05-vxr-f3q-st2.jpg
http://www.channel4.com/4car/media/V/vauxhall/astra/03-large/05-vxr-seats.jpg
http://www.channel4.com/4car/media/V/vauxhall/astra/03-large/05-vxr-s-st.jpg
I do like them. They said that in various reviews, that the power delivery is a bit harsh, and that the new Golf GTi was a better car overall.
Still like them though. Lucky bugger...also, aint you just brought a house???
*Not jealous*
SV650S_DUB
13-02-06, 11:57 AM
Good to see the GM boys getting back to creating some half decent hot hatches. Seems crazy that the once "supercar" Ferrari 308 was hovering at the 240Bhp mark only twenty odd years back, ah good old Magnum.
The Astra VXR is a decent car, but in terms of handling and pure feedback it's not quite up with the current Golf GTi never mind the blue ovals muscular and surprisingly deft Focus ST. That said the Astra has some serious mid range thrust, a real firecracker motor, shame it's not rwd. My only advice would be to try the Megane 225, especially the wicked Cup edition, before you commit to the Astra. I still reckon for looks though the Astra VXR beats any current hot hatch. Enjoy your drive. Oh yeah what colour did you plump for?
Definitely has the most road presence of any of the latest "hyper hatches" - you will most certainly build up big forearms holding onto all the torque steer! lol
Personally I would get a second hand Mitsi Evo (having had an early one in the past) - but you pays your money, you takes your choice! :)
We've looked at the GTi, but tbh, it just looks so bland and boring and like any other Golf on the road. Just got fancy alloys.
When comparing the VXR to the 2nd of the range Astra though, theres an awful lot of difference.
Seats are SO much better.
Get funky VXR dials, different dials from std.
Big ass bodykit, skirts, front airdam, rear bumper
center exit exhaust
19" alloys
236bhp, he he he he......
Better suspension shocks
Power delivery, tbh, wasn't as quick as i was expecting, but quicker than the other top models (Leon Cupra R, Golf GTi, Focus ST, Megan 225 etc). Handling, well, Vauxhalls have always been known for shoddy "out of the box" handling. Same as the Corsa, Nova, Astra GSi Mk3 etc. Put an aftermarket kit and its a belter of a car. Megane just doesn't feel quick, mid range punch is poo, plus is french, I don't like french cars :lol:
Missis has a 2.0 turbo corsa, a harsh power delivery will be ok :lol: It liked to torque steer a bit, but thats part of the fun. Don't drive it hard and its like any other car, but when you plant it, you get to have some fun :D
Oh, going to go for the Blue one hopefully. Yeah, just bought a new house too :D
Her companie is paying for it all, so can't even touch it though, but maybe, in 3-4 years time, I can buy it for myself, then get to play with it :twisted: But for a standard car, its pretty cool.
timwilky
13-02-06, 12:09 PM
Well as Mondao man what can I say. It is just a Vauxhall with a livelier power plant.
At my office we all have to have our toys. With me it is bikes. one guy just got himself a Ferrari Mondial in lurrrvly condition and another a Dodge Charger. one guy who has just left had a couple of big Healeys, and yet another with an Interceptor
When it comes to toys get something with a bit of personality
Well as Mondao man what can I say. It is just a Vauxhall with a livelier power plant.
At my office we all have to have our toys. With me it is bikes. one guy just got himself a Ferrari Mondial in lurrrvly condition and another a Dodge Charger.
When it comes to toys get something with a bit of personality
Pah, a typical FORD owner (Fix Or Repair Daily) Back bumper snapped in half yet? :lol: he he (banter...)
Nahh, seriously dude, look at my site, im a VX man..... :)
http://public.fotki.com/Daimob/my_car_and_donnas_car/
Would be in this colour. Not with these wheels, these are the standard 18"s.
http://www.carpages.co.uk/vauxhall/vauxhall_images/vauxhall_astra_vxr_16_04_05.jpg
http://www.channel4.com/4car/media/V/vauxhall/astra/03-large/05-vxr-s-st.jpg
That looks like one ugly car! The Astra does nothing for me what ever guise it is in but if it floats your boat then good for you.....
and yet another with an Interceptor
Now you're talking, four wheel drive with ABS in 1967, cracking car.
Shame it cost twice as much as an E-type.
For the record I think the Astra looks pretty good, although 230 odd horses going through the front wheels is going to test any chassis.
Not sure about the grey interior in the piccy (though those Recaros do look good) hard to tell from a photo anyway.
fizzwheel
13-02-06, 03:15 PM
Looks much nicer in the blue. I like it 8)
Jelster
13-02-06, 03:53 PM
Black, looks ace in black........
.
Funny thing is, RED is free (flat colour) but all the others are at a cost.
Searched for pictures of both Silver and Black, look really bland, plus i've got real issue with black cars, wash them, look great. 2 miels down the road, bit of dirt and they look awful again..... :lol:
Silver, far too many silver cars on the road for me. Current SXi is silver too...
I'd have purple if they done it ha ha, but blue really looks nice.
If you gotta have one the blue looks a good colour
Would look exactly like this. Dribble...
http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/5735/v12cz3ix.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d131/LouiseVXR/FlashsVXR009.jpg
Interior...
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/aussie31/SRiVXR055Medium.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/aussie31/SRiVXR052Medium.jpg
Shex weeeeee
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/aussie31/SRiVXR057Medium.jpg
*looks at above picture and dreams of a few extra bits :wink: *
Yep definatly the blue...it just dont look right in red
Jelster
13-02-06, 05:04 PM
It's about £1500 more than the Focus ST though (mind you, when you're spending that amount of money I gues £1500 is not a lot).
I would like to test them back to back, but as I own a Vectra SRi, I have to admit to being a bit of a Vauxhall man myself. Black is fine if you have a really good finish on it, but it does show the dirt...
Why has it got 2 CD slots ?
.
Looks menacing in blue! :shock: 8)
She gets a nice discount (more than £1500 ;) ) on Vauxhalls though, plus we can get parts at cost +5% etc.... Another reason were VX nuts lol....
errr 2 CD, good point, im gussing 1 for the Sat Nav and 1 for music? Will have to check that out...
Found out Vauxhall are already thinking of releasing a mentallist track day 330bhp version, 342mm 4 pots, KW Coilovers etc..... :twisted:
Cloggsy
13-02-06, 05:22 PM
They tested this car on Top Gear recently & it has the mother of all torque steering problems when the hammer is down :!:
Clarkson complained that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get the power down successfully (& that was in the dry, what would it be like in the wet :?: :shock:)
I quite like the loud and lairy focus ST in orange. its cheaper than the VX and they reckon it handles better. I heard the same test as Cloggsy when they said the torque steer was just immense
Ceri JC
13-02-06, 07:35 PM
I'm not a massive fan of Vauxhalls. Box on the Corsa is a bit clunky and the power delivery is a bit jerky. Hate the Zafira with a passion (feeling of invulnerability and "bike killer" front pillars = a real danger) and don't like the Vectra much either (although I don't like big cars unless they're powerful, really). All that said, I'm going to give a bog standard Astra a blat some time soon...
Vauxhall build quality leaves a lot to be desired
Looks fantastic on the outside but urrrrgh!!! The inside is dreadful dreary Vauxhall!
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/aussie31/SRiVXR055Medium.jpg
:why:
Jelster
13-02-06, 11:37 PM
Vauxhall build quality leaves a lot to be desired
Really ? My '01 Vectra SRi has a few stone chips, other than that it's been fine (apart from normal wear & tear) for the 5 or so years that I've owned it.
No major problems, it needs a new centre section for the exhaust, but after 5 years that's not too bad. All the electronics works fine, mechanicals are OK, and the bodywork still shines as well as the day I picked it up.
It gets a good thrashing every now and again, but performance isn't bad (it's a heavy car) and it's taken the family to France with ease.
And you see a lot 3 series Beamers than you do Vectras. BM's are becoming rather common these days.
.
They tested this car on Top Gear recently & it has the mother of all torque steering problems when the hammer is down :!:
Clarkson complained that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get the power down successfully (& that was in the dry, what would it be like in the wet :?: :shock:)
He actually had an early prototype VXR with the standard Astra suspension, not the VXR setup, so he'd have never got the power down.
Vauxhall build quality leaves a lot to be desired
That comment is totally in-accurate. The build quality is fine.
Don't get me wrong, its no VW/BMW quality, but then your not paying stupid prices, for a car thats very under powered and quite boring to drive. I've taken my Corsa apart more times than i care to remember, but never have had any issues with bits snapping, or breaking (other than the bits i break :lol: )
As for the dash, i like it. That picture isn't the best, but the dials etc are totally different to the standard Astra range dials. Look much better when you can actually see the dial properly.
You're clearly a Vauxhall man through and through! :wink:
What about a VX220 Turbo or VXR220? Much more fun! :D
You're clearly a Vauxhall man through and through! :wink:
What about a VX220 Turbo or VXR220? Much more fun! :D
Totally :lol: But thats not to say I don't appreciate other brands like Fords etc. Im not into this My Fords better than your Honda type BS..
VXR220 they only made 65, all sold.
VX220 isn't made anymore so can't buy it new.
This will be a daily drive, the missis going to work, evening and weekends type car so needs to be reliable, comfy, and quick.
WE still have her 2.0 turbo Corsa. But its hard for me now as i have an issue with what to do with my own car. :?
VX220 isn't made anymore so can't buy it new.
Get a new Lotus Europa S when they come out - no difference....! :-dd :lol:
Other than the fact its an overpriced white elephant Who said that?! :reaper:
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